Hrithik Roshan and Jaadu feature in a promo for Ryan Gosling’s Hail Mary

In a fun promotional video released by Sony Pictures India, Hrithik Roshan reunites with his childhood alien friend Jaadu from Koi… Mil Gaya (2003) to welcome Ryan Gosling’s alien friend Rocky from the upcoming sci-fi film Project Hail Mary.

The short clip, Hrithik tries to teach Rocky the iconic hook step of “Ek Pal Ka Jeena” from Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, only for Jaadu to feel hilariously jealous and possessive.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWGUOMsgJ2r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Both Koi... Mil Gaya and Project Hail Mary centre on a human forming a bond with an alien, the shared premise that the promotional video draws on.

Jaadu’s Return

For Indian audiences, the more immediate point of interest in the video was not the Hollywood film it was promoting, it was Jaadu.

The character, became one of the more recognisable figures in early 2000s Hindi cinema. The film sequel, Krrish, shifted focus to Hrithik’s superhero character, and left Jaadu largely absent from screens for over two decades. The promo marks one of the few instances in recent years where the character has resurfaced in any form.

Rakesh Roshan, director of Koi... Mil Gaya and Hrithik’s father, commented on the post calling the concept “novel.”

Online Response

“This promo was such a fun watch. Made me miss Jadoo… also, you NEED to do a comedy, you're naturally too funny not to!” wrote one user. Users joked about the crossover potential, with comments like “Jaadu meets Rocky when?” and “This crossover needs to happen.” Others leaned into nostalgia, saying “Jaadu walked so Rocky could run,” while some imagined alternate scenarios like “Hrithik in Hail Mary would’ve been wild.” Another commented, “Ryan Gosling is Hollywood 's Hrithik Roshan.”

Many users are asking for Jaadu to return in Krrish 4, “You must have a scene like this with Jadoo in Krrish4. Together you rock!” 

The hook step also generated its own set of responses, with users noting that Rocky performing it in the video had given the dance move an unexpected second life on social media.

Hollywood has increasingly leveraged Indian cultural references to promote films locally in India, creating a sense of familiarity and emotional connection that helps bridge the gap between global movies and desi audiences. This approach makes Hollywood feel less foreign and more relatable, especially for viewers who grew up on Indian cinema. It’s a clever way to connect Hrithik’s early sci-fi legacy with the Hollywood release, giving Indian audiences a fun entry point to the film.

Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, releases in India on March 26, 2026.